State of Community Mediation Listening Sessions are a Success

NAFCM, in partnership with GMU School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution and the JAMS Foundation, are working to craft a 2019 State of Community Mediation Report. Sixteen centers were awarded grants to facilitate a local State of Community Mediation listening session with community representatives.

Midlands Mediation Center in Columbia, SC is thankful for the eight individuals from different sectors of the community who participated in a conversation about what types of community mediation services are taking place now and what else may be helpful. Their enthusiasm and vision will help MMC set their future direction locally as well as adding value to the 2019 State of Community Mediation Report.

Some examples of positive engagement from session participants has included the following:

-The CEO of our local hospital asked to meet with me to talk about how we can work together (meeting is in June).

-The president of the rotary asked me to come speak to their club and asked for me to send her a list of projects they might fund. They are talking with other local rotaries about writing a grant for us.

-The local government official, with whom we're working on a Human Relations Ordinance, spoke passionately (and accurately) about mediation at a public meeting. The things he said came directly from what he learned at the Listening Session.

And that is not all. Susan says, “"My one other part time staff person and I had better take our vitamins!"

If your Center has news to share about your experience with facilitating Listening Sessions, please send an email to admin@nafcm.org.

The State of Community Mediation Report will be published in late September 2019.